Getting your music played on the radio, TV or online is an amazing achievement, but it’s just the beginning. To ensure you are rightfully compensated for your hard work, you may want to consider signing up for PPL.

Since 1934, PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited) has been helping those who invest their time and energy into recording music get paid for their work. They are the UK’s music licensing company for over 140,000 artists, who license recorded music when played in public and then distribute the fees to the performers. Artists like Anderson .Paak, George Ezra and Rita Ora have memberships with them. Recognise a couple of those names, perhaps?

We sat down with PPL’s Head of Member Services, Tatiana Altius, to discuss the differences between PPL and PRS, revenue, memberships and everything in between so you know the best ways to be supported as an artist.

 

Who can become a member of PPL?

You can become a member of PPL if you are a performer, whether that’s singing, on the drums or even a twinkle here and there on the triangle.

 

What’s the difference between PPL and PRS?

Making music involves many people, and everyone needs the correct support. So, which one is right for you?

Take a look at the lists below to see the main differences between the two:

PPL – for the performers

PPL memberships support recording rightsholders and performers for the use of commercially released recordings and performances. You don’t have to pay to join PPL.

  • Licenses recorded music for broadcast on:
  • TV (background music only)
  • Radio
  • Certain digital media services

PRS – for the writers

PRS memberships support authors (songwriters, composers, lyricists) and publishers for the use of musical compositions and lyrics. You have to pay a fee to join PRS.

  • Licenses musical works for broadcast on:
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Online

 

What are some benefits of signing up for PPL?

Probably the best one, it’s free to join!

Another great thing about PPL is that it can collect royalties for you if your music is played outside of the UK. They also collect more international neighbouring rights than any other company or administrator, so you’ve probably stumbled across the best membership that works hardest for its artists.

If you’re from the US, you’ll like this one. PPL has Qualified Intermediary (QI) status given by the US tax authorities. This means royalties collected by PPL from the US don’t get a 30% withholding tax. More money for you!

PPL also doesn’t have pesky hidden fees or commission charges. Since they deal with such huge amounts of money, they have a great exchange rate too, so they can optimise the money they collect on behalf of their members.

Their total revenue has been climbing since 2014 (with a dip in 2020, but we all know why, we’ll give them a pass), amassing £283.5m in 2023. This means more and more artists are signing up and getting paid. That could be you! But where does all this money come from? Radio, TV broadcasts and music channels may seem like they’re on a quick decline, but judging from the amount of money PPL are racking up for their artists, this couldn’t be farther from the truth.

 

Most importantly, how do you get paid?

PPL puts you in charge of getting paid. All you need to do is make sure you are inputting the correct information (e.g. what role you played in the song, like lead singer, backing singer, etc.) into their website so they know how much to pay you.

The website's myPPL portal makes it easy to see everything at a glance. You can manage your account online and control your data, view your payments and statements, update your contact and bank details, make claims on existing repertoire and more.

The register repertoire allows you to submit and edit recordings in bulk, manage all recordings and releases, link ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) and ISWC (International Standard Musical Word Code) information and get real-time validation of data on the screen.

If you are starting to record music and it’s getting airplay, make sure you register (it’s really quick), so you can start getting paid. It’s really that simple.

 

Top tips for singing up and using PPL

  • Make sure you have registered correctly

Ensure that all your personal and professional details are accurately entered into your PPL account to avoid any issues with your royalty collections.

  • Register with PPL for international collections

By registering for international collections, you can ensure that you receive royalties for your music being played worldwide.

  • Keep your account details up to date

Regularly updating your contact information and banking details ensures that you receive all notices and payments without any hassle.

  • Stay on top of releases

Regularly update your account with any new releases to avoid missing out on royalties.

  • Monitor your earnings and understand the distribution schedule

Regularly check your statements and reports to ensure you're receiving the correct payments and when to expect them.

Ready to sign up for PPL? Hopefully, you feel more clued up about the process, and you’re ready to start earning or claiming some money that is rightfully yours. If you want more helpful information about being an artist or part of the music industry as a whole, join us for one of our Music Industry Mondays events to soak up all the good stuff. Check out our events page here!